About two thirds of Australians use complementary and alternative medicines but only around half of these people will mention it to their doctor. Patients in palliative care settings may be more inclined than most to try therapies from outside the box. But they are also more vulnerable to side effects and interactions given that their drug metabolism and clearance mechanisms are often impaired. 

In this podcast you’ll hear the authors of a Clinical Perspectives article titled "Complementary and alternative therapies in the palliative setting." It’s published in the in the October issue of the Internal Medicine Journal which can be accessed by all RACP members at the login page racp.edu.au/fellows/resources/journals.

Professor Jennifer Martin and Joanne Patel describe how cannabinoid products, especially, have become more readily accessible to patients in recent years and often considered a panacea for many different symptoms. But given the wide variety of products each with a different concentration of active ingredients, drug effects are not always as a patient or doctor might expect. These compounds also have suppressive effects on P450 and other clearance enzymes which can alter the outcomes of other prescribed drugs.  But practitioners also need to consider their relationship with a patient when giving advice on the use of complementary medicines.     

Guests
Dr Jonathan Brett FRACP FAChAM (St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney)
Professor Jennifer Martin FRACP (University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital)
Dr Joanne Patel FRACP FAChPM (University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital)

Production
Written and produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Crossing Borders’ by Mindserver Unlimited. 

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